Circuit controller



May 11, 1943. H, BRANDT CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed May 17, 1941 PatentedMay 1l, 1943 UNITES TTE Maid? TEEN OFFICE d Claims.

This invention relates to an improved circuit controller for use inopening and closing electrical circuits.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved circuitcontroller which is sensitive in operation and will serve toinstantaneously open or close a circuit upon the movement of a member.In this connection it is desirable in certain instances to provide acircuit controller which will operate upon the rotation of a shaft orupon the reciprocation or other movement oi a member, and which willcontinue in operation so long as the movement continues.

In my present invention I contemplate the provision of a circuitcontroller which is brought into operation to open or close a circuitupon the rotation, reciprocation or other movement of a member, andwhich will` continue to, operate s long as the movement. or the membercontinues.

A further object. is the provision ci an improved circuit controller orthe above character having means for causing a slight delay or time lagin its operation.

Another object is the provision of improved circuit controller whichwill operate in response to rotary movement or reciprooation iny anydirection.

This application is acontinuation in part of my (so-pending patentapplication, Serial No. 363,899, led on November l', 1940'.

Referring more speciiically to the drawingn Fig. 1 isa longitudinalsectional view of a circuit controller embodying invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the direction 0i the arrows on thevline 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the oircuit controller showing amodied type oi co tact arm and vane provided with means for causing atime lag in the operationl oi the device;

Fig. e is longitudinal sectional view of a modified type of circuitcontroller embodying my invention and which wil-l operate in response toreciprooatory or rotary movement in any direction.;

Fig. 5 isa cross-sectional view in the direction of. the arrows ontheline 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig'. 6 is a detail sectional View in the direction of the arrows onthe'line 6 8 et Fig. 5.

Referring more specifically to the form of my inve troller is providedwith a suitable casing consisting of two complementary cup-like membersID and I I, which are threaded together in the manner shown. Projectingupwardly and downwardly respectively from the center of the casing mem-`;ion shown in Figs. l and' 2, the circuit con- L bers I d and Il, arethe tubular studs I2, which are in registry with each other and areexternally threaded so as to receive the couplings I3, which serve tohold the collars I4 in position.

The collars are provided with internal ianges I S which engage with ribsI5, formed on the tubular rotatable stub shafts I'I, thereby erving tohold the shafts in position. The stub shafts Il are provided withsplined connections in the manner shown, with the two ends of thetubular shaft I8 which extends longitudinally of the switch through thecentral portion thereof, and may rotate with respect thereto.

Mounted adjacent the central portion of shaft I 8 is a collar ofinsulating material IE-l which supports a ring of conducting material2i). Pivotally mounted on the ring 29 of conducting material, are a pairof vanes 2l which project outwardly from the ring and are normally heldin radial position and in engagement with stops 22 by means of springs23. The vanes may pivot against the tension of the springs in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig, 2. Projecting inwardly from eachof the vanes is a contact arm 24 which -is normally in spacedrelationship with respect to a contact strip 25 disposed around androtatable with respect to the tubular collar 26, formed on the inside ofthe casing and which serves as a seat for the rotating portions of theswitch. When the vanes 2l are pivoted against the tension of theirrespective springs, it will be seen that the Contact arms 24 engage theContact strip 25. Contact strip 25 is connected to and rotates withshaft i3. The contacts 24 are preferably pointed so as to ensurepositive Contact with the strip 25.

The insulating collar I3 is formed with a depending apron whichoverlapsv the contact strip 25 in the manner shown, so as to completelyinsulate the ring 20 from the shaft. Suitable washers and packingY areprovided in the switch in the manner shown, and I also preferablyprovide a spring 21 which extends between the casing member il and theinsulating collar i9 so as to retain the several parts in the positionsshown in the drawn that the circuit controller may be connected into anelectrical circuit, I preferably provide the casing with a suitableterminal 38, which is connected by means oi a spring contact strip 2Q toring 2o. rTerminal 23 and contact strip 23 are suitably insulated fromthe casing of the switch as indicated at 3E. The shaft it or the casingof the circuit controller may be sultabiy grounded and the terminal 28may be connected to the positive side of the circuit.

When the vanes 2| are in the radial position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thecircuit is open. However, when the vanes are pivoted against the tensionof their springs so that their contact arms 24 engage the contact strips25, the circuit is completed, through the terminal 28, contact strip 29,ring 29, contact arms 24, contact strip 25, and thence to shaft I8 andthe casing, one of which is grounded.

In order to cause the operation of the circuit controller when the shaftis rotated, I ll the casing with a dielectric fluid medium preferably aliquid such as, for instance, petroleum oil. The fluid may be introducedinto the casing through a suitable opening 3|, provided with a movableclosure 32. When the shaft I8 is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 2, the resistance offered by the oil orother iluid medium causes the vanes 2| to pivot against the tension oftheir springs, and to close the circuit between contact arms 24 andcontact strip 25.

Upon cessation of rotation of the shaft, the springs 23 cause the vanes2| to return to their normal position and the circuit is opened. In thisconnection, the springs should be of sufficient strength to return thevanes to their normal position against the resistance offered by the uidand at the same time they should be sufciently sensitive so that even aslight movement of the shaft will cause the vanes to pivot so as toclose the circuit. Sincethe shaft I8 offers very little resistance tovrotation, it will be appreciated that substantially no energy isrequired to operate the switch.

The shaft I8 may be operated by any suitable means, In the accompanyingdrawing it isillustrated as operatively connected to a speedometer cable33 of a motor vehicle. It will be appreciated that whenever the motorvehicle is in motion, the speedometer cable will rotate, and will causethe instantaneous operation of the circuit controller to close thecircuit. TheV circuit controller in turn may be used for any desiredVpurpose such as controlling an automatically operating door lock forlocking the doors of a car while it is in motion.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a slight modification wherein the opening of thecircuit after the shaft I8 ceases to rotate Vis delayed by a dash pot Inthis form of my invention the switch may be of similar construction withthe exception that I provide a vane 2| which is connected by means of alink 35 to a piston rod 31, which in turn is connected to the piston 38.The piston is disposed in cylinder 39 which rotates with the shaft.vanes, and contact arms.

The head of cylinder 3S is formed with relatively small apertures asshown while the bottom is formed with larger apertures. The oil from theswitch can enter into the cylinder and will cause it to operate as adash pot. In this connection, the apertures in the head of the cylindershould be small enough to resist the movement of piston 38.

The head of the piston is provided with a plurality of relatively largeapertures 49 which will permit the uid in the cylinder to flow freelythrough them so as not to obstruct or resist the piston when it isreclprocated. Disposed over the top of the piston is a valve 4| which isnor- Ymally held in contact with the top by means of a spring i2extending between the valve and a lixed collar 43. The valve 4| is ofsmaller diameter than the piston and is provided with a plurality ofrelatively small apertures in registry with the large apertures 49 inthe piston. The apertures in the valve are small enough to offersubstantial resistance to the flow of the liquid through them.

The tension of spring 42 is relatively weak so that when the piston isshifted downwardly in the cylinder, the valve will move away from itsseat permitting the dash pot uid to iiow freely through the largerapertures in the piston, However, when the piston moves upwardly, thevalve will be forced against its seat and due to the restricted size ofthe apertures in the valve, the upward movement of the piston will beresisted.

Due to this construction it will be seen that when the shaft i8 isrotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the vane 2|' willimmediately rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and the piston willshift downwardly in the cylinder without substantially affecting themovement of the vane. Accordingly the contact 211 will engage Contactstrip 25 substantially instantaneously upon rotation of the shaft.However, when the shaft stops rotating and spring 23 attempts to returnthe vane to its normal position, the dash pot will resist the movementof the vane and will cause a slight time lag in the opening of thecircuit. The amount of the time lag can be controlled by varying thesize of the apertures in the valve 4 l In the orm of my invention shownin Fig. 3, the vane is held in its normal radial position by means of amodied form of stop indicated at d4, which engages against a pin 55.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, I have shown a modied type of circuit controllerwhich is operated by either rotary motion or by reciprocating motion ineither direction. In this form of my invention I also provide a suitablecasing which may consist of a cylindrical portion 45 closed at each endby means of caps il and 43, threaded thereto. The cylindrical portionmay be formed of an outer shell 49 and an inner shell 59, both made ofelectrically conducting material and separated by a layer of insulatingmaterial 5|. Extending lengthwise of the casing through the centerthereof and projecting outwardly from both ends, is a shaft 52 which mayrotate and reciprocate or move axially in either direction with respectto the casing. The caps 41 and 48 are provided with integral threadedstuds 53 through which the shaft extends, and attached to the ends ofthe studs are the collars 54 which serve to hold packing material 55 inposition.

As in the first form of my invention the interior of the casing isfilled with a suitable dielectric fluid. preferably a liquid such aspetroleum oil, and this may be introduced to the interior of the casingthrough a suitable opening 56 provided with a cap 5l. Suitably keyed tothe shaft in the interior of the casing is a sleeve 58 made ofconducting material and provided with an integral flanged collar 59adjacent one end thereof. Disposed around the sleeve, immediatelyadjacent the collar 59, is a channel ring 60 made of insulating materialand which is preferably formed in two sections, as shown, so as toaccommodate the annular support lill on which the contacts B2 and 64,and the vanes 63 and 55 are pivotally supported.

As in the first form of my invention, the vanes V63 and 65 are normallyheld in radial position in engagement with stops El by means of thesprings 66. However, the vanes and stops are arranged in oppositerelationship so that when the shaft 52 is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection the vane S3 is caused to pivot, and when the shaft 52 isrotated in a clockwise direction, the vane 65 is caused to pivot. Whenthe vanes are caused to pivot in this fashion, the respective contacts62 and 84 are shifted into engagement with the collar 55. Thus it willbe seen that when the shaft is rotated in either direction, the circuitcontroller will be operated.

In order to cause the operation of the controller, when the shaft isreciprocated, I provide another pair of contacts 68 and 1U, and vanes 69and 1l, also pivotally connected to the annular support 6|. The pivotalsupports for the contacts 62' and S4 are perpendicular to the shaft 52whereas the pivotal supports for the contacts 68 and 10 are disposed atright angles thereto. The vanes 69 and 1l, and contacts 68 and 'IB arearranged in opposite relationship with respect to each other but bothare normally held in horizontal position by means of springs l2 whichpress them against the stops T3.

When the shaft 52 is shifted upwardly as viewed in Fig. 6, the vane E9and contact 68 are shifted downwardly into engagement with collar 55.When shaft 52' is shifted downwardly, vane 'H and contact 7i! pivotupwardly so that the contact engages the fixed contact member 74 whichis also supported on sleeve 58.

The entire assembly of insulating ring Si), annular support Gl, and xedcontact 14 are held in position on the sleeve by means of the collar 75,threaded to the end thereof. Since the sleeve is fixedly secured to theshaft 52, the entire assembly rotates with and reciprocates with theshaft.

The electrical circuit for the switch may be connected in any desiredmanner. One convenient arrangement is shown in the drawing and consists0f the contact post 16, which is insulated 1 from the shell 49, asindicated at 11, but is electrically connected with the shell 50.Contact with the shell 5G is made by means of a pair of suitableelectrodes or brushes, such as the carbon brushes 18 which are mountedin the sockets 'I9 formed on the annular support 6|. The brushes orelectrodes are urged into engagement with the shell 5D by means of smallsprings in the manner shown. The outer shell 49 of the casing iselectrically connected with the caps 4l and 48, and the shaft 52, whichin turn is electrically connected with sleeve 58, collar 59, and contactelement 14.

The terminal post 'I6 may be connected to the positive terminal of abattery and the outer shell or the caps of the casing or the shaft 52may be suitably grounded. It will thus be seen that when the shaft isreciprocated or rotated in any direction, the circuit controller willoperate to close the circuit, and the circuit will remain closed as longas the motion continues.

All portions of the casing and circuit controller in each form of myinvention are made of conducting materials excepting those speciilcallyreferred to as being made of insulating material.

It should be understood, of course, that many modifications may be madein the illustrated and described embodiment of my invention withoutdeparting from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A circuit controller comprising a casing, a non-conducting fluiddisposed in the casing, a shaft extending into the casing and mountedfor both rotary and axial movement, contact means supported on saidshaft and ilxed relative thereto, a rst shiftable contact supported bythe shaft so as to be shiftable in one plane into and out of engagementwith the contact means, a second shiftable contact supported by theshaft so as to be shiftable relative thereto into and out of engagementwith the contact means through a plane disposed substantially at rightangles to the plane in which the rst shiftable contact shifts, and fluidactuated means connected to the said flrst and second shiftable contactsso as to cause one of the contacts to shift when the shaft rotates andso as to cause the other contact to shift when the shaft moves axially.

2. A circuit controller comprising a casing, a non-electric conductingfluid substance within said casing, a rotary member extending axiallythrough said casing, a circular Contact fixed to said member, aconductor ring fixed to said member and insulated therefrom, an electricterminal on said casing and insulated therefrom, a spring Contactconnected with said terminal and contacting said ring, a pivoted contactcarried by said ring and electrically connected therewith, means actingon said pivoted contact to yieldingly retain it is circuit openingposition, a vane connected with said pivoted contact responsive to theinertia of said fluid substance upon rotation of said member to causesaid contact to pivot into engagement with said circular contact toclose a circuit.

3. A circuit controller including a casing, a non-electric conductingiluid substance within said casing, a member rotatable and also axiallymovable with respect to said casing, circuit closers operativelyconnected with said member, said circuit closers being responsive to theinertia of said fluid substance upon rotation of said member so that onewill close a circuit when said member rotates in one direction and theother closes the circuit when said member rotates in the oppositedirection, and an additional circuit closer operatively connected withsaid member which is responsive to the inertia of said fluid substanceupon axial movement of said member to close a circuit.

4. A circuit controller comprising a casing, a non-electric conductingiluid substance within said casing, a shaft extending axially of saidcasing rotatable and also axially movable, two contacts each having aradial vane mounted on said shaft, each contact being movable betweencircuit opening and closing positions, the vane of one said contactsbeing responsive to the inertia of said fluid substance when the shaftrotates in one direction to close a circuit, and the vane of the othercontact being responsive to the inertia of said fluid substance when theshaft rotates in the opposite direction to close the circuit, and anadditional circuit closer operatively connected with said shaftresponsive to the inertia of said fluid substance upon axial movement ofthe shaft to close a circuit.

HOWARD BRANDT.

